This is part 2 of transitioning your baby to table foods, since I had so much to say on the subject! In the last post, I taught you how to start off with puffs and moving to soft cubed foods like bananas and cooked vegetables, if you missed it, check it out here. In this post, I will lay out how to completely make the transition off of baby food, avoid choking hazards, and what to do when it isn’t going well.
And, look out for the free printable cheat sheet if your baby is having a hard time transitioning to table foods at the end!
Transitioning from Baby Food to Table Food
How do you know they are managing (eating) foods well? When they are chewing it with little to no coughing, choking, or gagging, and swallowing easily (not hard gulps), consistently, for a week or two.
Some examples of softer foods to move onto are (increasing in difficulty): avocado, banana, scrambled eggs, boiled potatoes, muffins, pasta, deli meat, cheese.
At this point you can also try pairing crackers and other crunchy foods with spreads like jelly, hummus, and cream cheese to maximize exposure to table foods and different textures. Spread right on the cracker or show them how to dip it into a glob on their tray. Then, start giving them these foods first, before the baby food, at a meal and allow them to eat as much as they want or will.
Continue to present a larger variety of table foods slowly and as they eat enough of them give less and less baby food during the meal. There will come a meal when you will say, “I think they ate enough of the toast, eggs, and strawberries. I don’t think they need the baby food.” Once you reach this point, it is okay to dip back into baby foods for a meal here and there, but ultimately you have to take a leap into letting go of the security baby food gives. Keep trying different table and finger foods. If you are looking for finger food inspiration, see my Mega List of Table Foods.
I have been mostly focusing on actual cubed food that babies can easily feed themselves, but as they eat those softer foods and the spreads well, you can start to slowly experiment with mixed textures like soups and casseroles. Again, you will want to keep this slow, maybe starting off with macaroni and cheese, and then moving to spaghetti and meatballs and then chicken noodle soup. The latter has a lot more changes in consistency in one bite of food. You can give baby a couple of pieces on the tray of these types of food, but will probably be mostly feeding by spoon.
The Big Picture: Step by Step Introducing Table Foods to Baby Guide
Let’s sum up everything we’ve talked about in this saying bye bye to baby foods series with a list that you can use a quick guide. Remember to ONLY move onto the next step once your baby is safely and consistently eating the previous step for a few days to a week or so, depending on your comfort level and the time it takes your baby to learn, which varies widely.
- Give baby puffs (this is my favorite brand) as their very first table food. (Follow instructions in part 1)
- Give other food that have a crunch but melt easily, like cheese curls and graham crackers. (See full list in part 1)
- Give soft foods that you’ve cut into a small cube.
- Give soft foods with irregular shapes like scrambled eggs, noodles, and ground meat crumbles.
- Give crunchy foods that don’t melt as quickly like cheerios, toast (add toppings like hummus, avocado, etc.)
- Give mixed foods like casseroles and soups (start off with foods that don’t have a lot of chunks in theme and monitor closely)
Helpful Tips for Babies Learning to Eat Table Foods
- The best way to present most of these foods is in a small cube shape. This will make it easier for them to pick up and control the size of the bites they are eating. Babies will often choke as they are learning to eat, it is normal, but we can minimize risk by giving them smaller pieces until they are ready to manage more.
- Puffs have next to no calories. They are great to use when they are just starting on table foods, but as you pull away from baby food they don’t offer enough to fill their little bellies.
- I am using the word “transition” intentionally. Getting your baby onto table foods is a process that is a little like a dance, taking a few steps forward and then one back. Many parents find this to be a challenging time.
- Hot dogs, grapes, marshmallows, large dollops of nut-butters, nuts, lettuce, popcorn, hard candy are all potential choking hazards. Hot dogs, grapes, and marshmallows can be cut into small pieces. Spread nut-butters thinly on foods. Food larger than a pea could get lodged in the airway.
What to do if Baby Won’t Eat Table Food
Some children have a hard time moving onto table foods. Often these babes were pros at baby food, but turn their noses up and refuse many or all table foods. It is common for this to be related to sensory defensiveness and/or difficulty chewing. Generally speaking, as every child has specific instances and circumstances, it would be helpful to encourage play with food.
If there is sensory defensiveness, this will help break it down. Try bins of dry foods like rice, beans, and birdseed first. As they tolerate this, move onto wet bins such as cooked noodles (Check out Sensory bin ideas and instructions). Depending on the age of your child, this will require close supervision.
Also, try playing with their food during a meal. Take the pressure off of eating and make a game out of those bananas they won’t touch. See Exploring New Foods for more help on this.
Lastly, your baby watches you closely and will be motivated to imitate. Show them how to chew by leaving your mouth open and dramatically chewing for them to see. Be positive about foods they try, even if they refuse or spit it out. Keep presenting it over and over, at least 12 times. And, if your baby allows you to, place small bits of food (at whatever table food stage you are in, see the list above) directly onto their gums, where their molars will be.
Some babies have a very sensitive gag reflex if that’s the case head to What You Need To Know About Baby Gagging, you’ll find tips for how to overcome and when to know if it’s a problem you need help with.
If you continue to struggle with moving forward with this process, consider feeding therapy. If you are in the states you may qualify for free help from Early Intervention.
Do you feel like your ready to tackle table foods?
Still Have Questions? Get the Free Printable!
I totally get that when your baby or toddler isn’t eating table foods it can feel super stressful. That’s why I have the free Learn to Eat Table Foods Cheat Sheet printable . I’ll send it right to your inbox.
Click here to get your free printable and put those worries to rest.
More on Baby Table Foods
The Best High Calorie Foods for Babies
The Ultimate List of Baby/Toddler Meal Ideas
Ultimate List of Mealtime Must Haves for Baby
Did you pin this?
There’s a lot of info in this post, you might want to get to it quickly again later!
Hi Alisha, help me! I have an 18 month old son who’s been experiencing difficulties in eating. I think he has some sensory issues, or doesn’t know how to co-ordinate chewing. We don’t have OT’s here, and the closest that I have found to a therapist was a logopaedician/defectologist, who disregarded my concerns and told me that if my son can chew potato chips, he can chew anything, and the reason he will not touch bananas or anything mushy is because he maybe doesn’t like them. I also had him evaluated by a psychologist and, guess what, his mental and motor development equals that of a 22 month old. I’ve followed your tips to the word, thickening the purees, and always serving some table food first. He had developed so nicely that we had reached 50:50. But only certain type of table food, for instance, pastinas with some diced zuchinni or shredded broccoli, and cheeses sprinkled on, and deli meat. Nothing runny or mushy! I think I made a wrong step somewhere. About two weeks ago he started refusing being spoon-fed, and he wouldn’t touch the bowl, just finger food. He also didn’t wanna go anywhere near the high-chair! So I started putting him on my lap, after he was done with finger food, and supplement with kinda of baby food (thick veggie and meat and cheese puree with small sized pasta mixed in, maybe one tbsp), and he was vomiting it. I noticed that everything was un-chewed. So we let him be for a few days, to see whether he’ll actually feed himself a full meal when he goes hungry. It’s been a week now, and, I swear that he’s lost weight. He doesn’t eat enough and then asks for milk. Today, for instance, when we got up at 8:30 he had opened the fridge (I don’t lock it anymore because sometimes he opens it and points at food that he wants) and, by the time I finished brushing my teeth, he had drank a 250 ml container of cow milk, a type that comes with a straw, which he hadn’t drank the night before. So we did a late breakfast at 10, lasted 1 and a half hour, during which he ate a 1 ounce chicken sausage, licked the cream cheese off a half a waffle, would touch the cheese sticks, and then I had to make him a green smoothie and spoon-feed it to him. Didn;t want any snack at noon. Lunch was at 3:30 since we had a doctor’s appointment, and he ate 1/3 of a maybe one ounce home made meatball, one slice of cheese, a very thin one, wouldn’t eat the rice and veggie patties or bread and half a cup of jogurt. 6:20 we had dinner as a family, he drank only the jogurt (its a thinner type, U can drink it from a cup), and nibbled on a cheese and spinach pitta (similar to pieroghi). We gave another try at dinner at 8:20 and I made the mistake of serving the fish finger and brownrice with peas together with a cup of milk. He drank the milk first, than ate perhaps 8 peas and a dozen grains of brown rice. Bit the fish finger only once.
What should I do? Should I go back to supplementing with baby food. He will not chew it. Should I go back to thick purees?
I don’t know what to do? In the meanwhile, he’s switched to an almost liquid diet.
It sounds like you guys were on a good path and I am glad the strategies helped. I would focus on some of those crunchy foods and try to build off of what he is eating by making small changes. Keep foods small, flat, and as crunchy or crisp as possible. You can try to give him some purees still, but I wouldn’t focus on it too much because he is probably done with it. I would keep those textures smooth and really try to demonstrate how to chew with your mouth wide open. Keep things positive as well and try to get him back to sitting on his own.
I’m so sorry you don’t have a lot of resources there. I do offer private, individualized consults, including an email option. You can find more info in the menu bar.
This comment has been removed by the author.
Hi Alisha, i am the same person who posted a question on July 14th 2014 @10:41am. My son who is now 17months changed his eating habit not sure if its to a better or worse one. He started swallowing his food but without chewing. For example if you put a spoonful in his mouth he will try to push the whole amount down his throat. I am worried that this is life threatening habit. What i have been doing i have been giving him small amount that i know cant choke him. Do you have some tricks i can apply to help him learn to chew? The strange thing is if i give him grapes (cut in half) he will chew and swallow. If i give him chop ribs he will pull the meat out, chew and swallow without chewing. However when it comes to food no matter how thick he doesn,t chew them
It really sounds like there is some underlying issues going on here that need additional interventions. Unfortunately, I don’t really have any quick tricks other than you demonstrating with a wide open mouth. It does sound like he needs to learn to chew. If he never went through a stage when he mouthed on toys, encourage that now. Other than that, the strategies would need to be determined on an individual basis. I offer consultations, see the menu bar, or my previous response for some ideas to get specific individualized help. I wouldn’t give him any mixed textures, that is a much harder skill- either a smooth texture or the pieces individual- no lumps. I hope that helps!
Thank you for your reply. I also wanted to add that few yesterday I gave him rotini pasta and he did manage to chew it but today when I gave him porridge with tiny carrot pieces he threw up. The carrot pieces were not chewed. I am so stressed and would like to change this (I understand it may not happen soon) how can I set up a consultation with you?
I would only give him even textures. He probably doesn’t know how to sort out different textures. Even though it will take some time to overcome this totally, after we talk you will have the tools you need to be heading in the right direction and avoid gagging/throwing up. You can find more information about the consults in the menu bar under Consultations and/or email me at yourkidstable@gmail.com
I have emailed you and would love to set up something soon. Thank you again!
I have a 20 month old and he eats Cheerios, bread, hummus, yogurt, strawberries, blueberries, grapes, chips, pasta, french fries, popcorn, roasted corn but he eats very very little of it and only sometimes. Could he have chewing/ swallowing issues or sensory issues? Please help because it breaks my heart to see him eat so little.
It is certainly possible. If you are in the states you can get a free in home evaluation. Click on the Article Index in the menu bar and then look for Help for Infants and Toddlers for more information. I’m also available for private consultations. Let me know if you need any help!
What to do with the veggie/meat issues? I’ve read some of those posts on picky eating, but I can’t get my 11 month old to eat most veggies so I give him that in purees still to make sure he gets those nutrients. He might stick in his mouth and then spit it out or he’ll just throw it on the floor to begin with. I’m scared to leave the purees because I want him to at least get veggies in some form.
Hi Jen, these foods are often the most difficult for kids to eat for a variety of reasons. I actually wrote three posts on this very topic, which you can find in the article index in the menu bar. I would follow the steps in there and in the mean time it is okay to keep up with the baby food but I would make it really thick and even try making some homemade.
Hello, I have gotten so much useful information on your blog! Thank you!
We just had my daugter’s 9 month check up– her doctor made me worried that we are behind on table foods and that my daughter may have aversion to food. She picks up the puffs and cut up veggies but does not place them in her mouth. Also she does not hold her bottle instead she either pats it or places both of her hands behind her head like she has done since newborn. Along with sippy cups will hold them but will not place in her mouth to drink.
Should I be worried or do you have any suggestions besides helping her move her hand to her mouth while eating and positioning her hands on her bottle and holding them there?
Any tips or suggestions are welcomed! Thanks
I don’t think you need to be worried, all of this could be totally normal. However, I think it is good to be aware. You will want to watch these things and work them, but don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Sometimes babies just need some extra time to figure things out. If things don’t seem like they have improved at all in a month and you live in the states I would look into a free evaluation that is offered through your state. See my article index for the article: Help for Infants and Toddlers. As for the bottle, sometimes a bottle holder helps, here is a link to show you what I’m talking about. There are a lot of them. They are often helpful but it isn’t a 100% guarantee that it will work though.
http://www.amazon.com/Ba-Baby-Bottle-Holder-Blue/dp/B006LKX0Y6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1406380966&sr=8-1&keywords=bottle+holder
Hi Alisha,
I have a 15 months old son who will eat cereals and blended fruits just fine. When it comes to food (eg mashed potatoes, peas, blended cooked spinach) he will not swallow. He keeps the food in his month for as long as he want and eventually spit it out. We even tried to puree his food but he does the same thing (he won’t swallow). This has been very frustrating to us because it takes us over two hours to feed him 6ounces of food. Is there a trick we can try to use to help him like food or appreciate food? We try different kind of foods every meal but none seems to be his favorite. Your help will be highly appreciated
I would try making the pureed food very thin and maybe mixing with the blended fruits. I would also consider an evaluation just to rule out any possible issues with swallowing- a lot more goes into it than you may think. My other thought it that this may be sensory based. If you are in the states you would qualify for a free evaluation in your home. See my article, Help for Infants and Toddlers in the article index or let me know if you need more help. I would definitely avoid letting meals go much past 30 minutes. Try some bites of the difficult food and then switch to what he eats well. Also, have a drink handy to help him wash it down.
I’m so thankful to have found your site! My daughter is 13.5 months old and I’m having trouble (like ooober frustrating, like makes me want to cry with her) transitioning her to table food. Just to be clear, she can and will eat quite a lot of things…namely CARBS. The child has absolutely no problem eating/chewing/etc anything like breads, Nutri Grain, puffs, the crunchies that look like cheezy poofs, cheezy poofs, Pretzels/tortilla chips (yes, I know they are no good, but I wanted to push the envelope on this carb thing to see what she could do!). These things do NOT have to be broken/cut smaller. She will start with the whole thing and eat off it. She will also eat bananas, cheese (shredded or chunks), all stage 2 baby foods, yogurt. Until a couple of weeks ago, when I tried to give her new things, she would gag and barf all over the table. Now she just spits it out.
OK, here’s where it gets really good…my dad (an amazing baby whisperer type with 5 kids of his own) observed this and said he thought it was pure will driving the behavior. That I should let her get good and hungry and then she would eat. Well, he was right, sort of. She has eaten almost nothing for 3 days now. When she does get good and hungry, she will eat sweet potatoes and apple pieces (cooked). I offer these and some combo of peas, green beans, carrots, cantaloupe at EVERY MEAL, only giving her a bowl of oatmeal mixed w baby food at bedtime, and a 6oz milk bottle when she first wakes and goes to bed. Through this I know she can successfully chew and swallow the sw potatoes and apples. No gagging at all. The only other success is at snack yesterday, I gave all the kids fruit cocktail. She ate the grapes, cherries, peaches, and pears (I left out the pineapple) with only a little choking on a hard pear piece. She wants what everyone else has, but can’t handle it. And she mostly just wants the carb things.
Her will is strong, but so is mine. I want to help her through this, but the right way! HELP!!
Hi Alessly, this is an interesting situation. First I have to say that I would never under any circumstances say don’t feed your child. There are so many complex underlying issues that could be making it difficult for your child (see my post on 5 reasons kids don’t eat in the sidebar). See my Eating Basics in the menu bar for more on this. However, you really aren’t starving her as you giving her milk and food at the beginning and end of the day. Also, I never want to tell a parent to go against their instincts. If you give her the carb things just moderate how much and try to get her interacting with the other food at least. I would also focus on some sensory bins, there is a link in the post above. With this small amount of information it does sound like there is some sensory stuff going on here. I would use this post as a guide and try to implement as much as you can. I don’t want to overwhelm you, but there are so many articles here that will be in much more detail than this comment see the Article Index in the menu bar and start poking around. Please let me know if you need more help!
Actually, I meant see the post Turning My Picky Eater Around, if you hit home now it is the most recent post or you can find it in the article index!
Thank you for this post! My son is 13 months and he was starting to eat more table food, but now he won’t try anything! He eats graham crackers, Cheerios, and sometimes bananas. I know it’s not an issue with chewing since I know he can do it. It doesn’t seem to be an issue with texture because he won’t even put it in his mouth and try. Any other suggestions?
Hi Kellie, first just because it doesn’t go to his mouth doesn’t mean it isn’t texture. Sometimes they are so unsure of the texture they don’t even like to look at or touch it- that may not be what is going on here but I wouldn’t rule it out just yet. I would focus on what he is eating and make small changes, try other types of crackers and dry cereals to start. Also, cut bananas into different shapes and present these preferred foods with other foods that he is refusing. Around this age taste buds really start to develop as well, which is why he may have become more selective. If it persists let me know.
Hi I’m in the UK but stumbled upon this site whilst trying to find a solution to my 22 month old girls eating issues. She eats stage 3 jars no problems (doesn’t even seem to chew it, just straight down the hatch). She’ll eat some finger foods, crisps, fries, biscuits, crumpets, chocolate, bananas, and will eat from our forks at meal times (mashed potatoes, carrots, chicken etc). As a 12 month old she would eat fingers of cheese spread sandwiches, small pieces of tomato etc by herself but this has stopped flat. Screams bloody murder if you try to offer her table foods as her meal. Really struggling to get her off jars and back to table foods. Tried making my own foods with baby pasta and tomato sauce, again screamed the place down. Help?? She was tongue tied but this was snipped at 7 weeks. As I say she happily eat snacky foods such as chips, crisps, fries etc and jars but not table foods at meal times. Thanks for listening.
I would slowly mix in some of those homemade varieties to start or at a minimum add some seasonings or olive oil in small amounts to the food she prefers. I have a feeling she may not be chewing food well. Really try to demonstrate this for her and have her imitate sticking her tongue out and making silly noises with it. It may be weak or not have good coordination. Also, build on what she is eating well, make small changes by buying different brands and flavors of food.
Seperate question…..he drinks water from a straw cup pretty well. At his 3 pm snack I’ve been offering his formula in a sippy cup. It’s a soft spot one. Is this ok? Should it be a different type of cup or also a straw cup? Transission is challenging and I feel like I’m drowning lol. It’s supposed to be fun but I’m overthinking things and don’t have a lot of places to look for advice. Thanks again!
It is okay, I understand. Forgive my late responses- I was on vacation and have back logged! Anyways, at his age the sippy cup is fine, by one year I’d like to see him without it- ideally. Don’t make yourself crazy though. Still give him opportunities to drink through the straw though. The soft spout is fine but the next time you buy one go for a smaller hard shaped variety.
Can you help me. My son is 9.5 months old. I have been slowly giving him chunkier purée. He can totally eat puffs and Cheerios and baby mum mum cookies with little to no issue.
We have tried some finger foods such as well cooked pasta, super moist baby mestballs.
My issue is he cries at a lot if meals:(. Even with purée he has been known to cry. I notice with the more sokid foods he will try to self feed a few pieces and the rest I offer in a spoon and he eventually cries and is looking for purée. He loves purée as he can continually shovel it in.
He holds food in his cheeks and then can’t figure out how to et it iut. It’s hard and frustrating. I feel like I’m offering the same things continually and have zero creativity as I’m afraid he won’t eat something or be upset thru the entire meal. He had a formula bottle after his breakfast and lunch. Another one at 3 with a snack. And then bedtime. Snack is usually some sort of cracker or puff etc with some fruit lately raspberries he likes and will feed himself.
It is okay to keep focusing on puree at his age. It is more important to keep it positive. Slowly introduce and back off when you see his attitude starting to change. It sounds like he “may” have some underlying issues going on. I would consider a free early intervention evaluation, just to make sure. Demonstrate with a wide open mouth on how to chew and use your finger to quickly sweep his cheeks out when he pockets the food. Give LOTS of positive reinforcement whenever he does something good no matter how small.
I have a 23 month old son that I can not get to eat table food. He still gets most of his nutrition from stage 2 baby food. He will eat stage 3 sometimes but gags throughout it. I’m not sure if there is an issue or if he’s just being a stubborn 2 year old. He will eat strawberries, bananas, cheese, yogurt, crackers, chips, cake, cookies, puffs, yogurt bites, occasionally diced lunch meat, diced apples…but will gag & make himself throw up when thick foods are presented to him, such as mashed potatoes, eggs, etc…I’m confused because he will stick a while strawberry in his mouth and chew it fine, same with crackers he’ll stick 2 in his mouth at once and chews them with no problem or gagging. I’m so frustrated and feel like a bad mom that my son won’t eat
I know it is so frustrating. As I talk about in this post it is really hard for some kids to transition to mixed foods, which is what stage 3 is. For the time being I would avoid it and work more on his chewing skills. Keep mealtimes positive and relaxed. See my article index and eating basics in the menu bar for a ton of ideas on this. Also, in the article index look for the article “help for infants and toddlers: early intervention”, assuming you are in the states. I would highly recommend a feeding eval, he may have some underlying issues. If you don’t want to go that route, please don’t hesitate to contact me for an individual consult (also in the menu bar). Of course, let me know if you have any other questions!
Thanks so much for replying. I mentioned my concerns at my sons last well check at 18 months. His pediatrician seems to think things are ok since he can in fact chew really well. That’s what confuses me so much about this whole thing, he does do really well chewing up his foods. I’ve noticed lately he’s becoming very curious about the foods that we’re eating for dinner. We eat at the table for meal time. I make him a plate of what we are eating and get him to sit with it for awhile. I don’t force him to eat, but I leave the option of eating what we’re eating open. First few weeks he would throw his plate in the floor, but lately he’ll just politely push it back. I’m trying to make it a positive experience and I feel like we are making progress, slowly. I believe the curiosity is a step forward. I’m going to give a little more time and if there’s no improvement I may contact you for a consult. Thanks so much
Interest in eating is awesome! Keep trying. I’m glad you discussed your concerns with your pediatrician, if they persist bring it up again and be persistent. Many pediatricians don’t have much experience with feeding and only can base what they see on how they are growing. In the mean time focus on those foods that I talk about in these posts, they will be the easiest for him to eat. You are doing a great job!
my little boy is 7 months old and got no teeth but chews really well the public health nurse told me to start him on table food ( things i eat ) i give him yogurt(minigos) cheerios, toast, eggs, banana , corn twists ,baby puffs, mum mums but i don’t know what else to feed him meal wise like for dinner and supper can you give me some ideas im a first time mom 🙂
Oh I have a whole post on that, see the side bar under popular posts or the article index in the menu bar at the top. It is called Mega list of baby and toddler foods.
Think of cooked potatoes, noodles, soft pizza, tortilla shell, fish, etc., just to name a few. Let me know if you need more help!